ELECTION FOR NATIONAL MINORITIES' COUNCILS POINTLESS - SERB OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - Local elections for representatives and councils of national minorities on May 18 are pointless and there are many unclear issues regarding this ballot, Milan Djukic, president of Croatia's Serb People's Party (SNS), said on Thursday. #L# The SNS objects the most to the fact that election lists do not state the name of the non-governmental organisation which put up its candidates, said Djukic. He explained that in Lika-Senja County there were two NGOs which nominated 25 representatives each, listing them in alphabetical order without stating which NGO they are from. Several candidates even share the same name, which prevents citizens from knowing who they are voting for, said Djukic, describing this as farcical. He stated there still was no political will in Croatia to resolve the issue of returnees. Property restitution is constantly being postponed, which is detrimental to citizens as well as to temporary occupants, who worry about their accommodation, he said. The SNS has pressed charges with the state prosecutor in Gospic County against unknown people who are suspected of having committed a war crimes when 66 people were killed in the Donji Lapac area after Operation Storm in 1995. Similar charges will be filed in connection with crimes in the Korenica, Udbina, and Gracac areas. (hina) ha sb